Founders paid high price for our liberty

Published: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at 08:37 PM.

The Fourth of July rings in today with vibrancy and splendor — a day unlike any other on the American calendar during the course of a year’s time.

No matter the results from our varied opinions and arguments regarding the country as it now stands; all else seems to pause — if only for a day — as we celebrate unity. We are united as states, 50 strong now, but only 13 colonies when it all began in the 18th century.

Nearly everyone is able to recite the famous lines from our nation’s Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers for the Consent of the Governed…”

The words provide insulation and comfort, securing the foundation under which we have come to be such a great nation.

But let us not forget the closing line. It is with that sentence that the bravest of souls 237 years ago staked everything — and we do mean everything.

It reads: “And for the support of this Declaration with a firm Reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

When the 56 men signed, they knew fully what it meant — even if today we can hardly grasp such enormity.

The Fourth of July rings in today with vibrancy and splendor — a day unlike any other on the American calendar during the course of a year’s time.

No matter the results from our varied opinions and arguments regarding the country as it now stands; all else seems to pause — if only for a day — as we celebrate unity. We are united as states, 50 strong now, but only 13 colonies when it all began in the 18th century.

Nearly everyone is able to recite the famous lines from our nation’s Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers for the Consent of the Governed…”

The words provide insulation and comfort, securing the foundation under which we have come to be such a great nation.

But let us not forget the closing line. It is with that sentence that the bravest of souls 237 years ago staked everything — and we do mean everything.

It reads: “And for the support of this Declaration with a firm Reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

When the 56 men signed, they knew fully what it meant — even if today we can hardly grasp such enormity.

For treason, a man would be sentenced to death by hanging. New York Harbor already was occupied by a British fleet.

This wasn’t a picnic down at the local park. These men were not being rebellious to enhance their own stature or fortunes. They were rebelling against their mother country.

Almost half were judges and lawyers, and 18 of them were under the age of 40. Three were in their 20s. Only Ben Franklin was what we might consider an “old” man. They were men with families and riches, having much more to lose than gain.

Joseph Hewes, a merchant, and William Hooper and John Penn, both lawyers, signed for North Carolina. None saw his 50th birthday, but didn’t suffer as did some of the other 53.

Nine died of wounds or hardships from the war; five were captured and badly mistreated while imprisoned. Many lost wives, two of whom were treated brutally, and families. The homes of 12 were completely burned, and 17 lost everything they owned.

Never did one go back on his pledged word. They sacrificed greatly for a nation that remains strong today.

Let us, as Americans, never forget where we came from, no matter the course each of us thinks we should take.